Tech: mobile phone kaput.

Subject: Tech: mobile phone kaput.
From: GUEST,inept
Date: 15 Jan 06 - 05:51 PM

If this is BS feel free to move it.

Bear with me on this please. I am a complete techophobe and have had many inane computer probs solved here, so thought someone may know the answer to this too?

I have a Nokia mobile phone which I have dropped and the plastic bit covering the screen broke off and the plastic casing around it is shattered. I have sellotaped it back and it still works at the moment. I know I need to change it but don't want to get a new phone number.

Do I just have to buy any other Nokia to keep the same number? I know it has a Sim card, or imagine it does as I have heard people talk about them. But I ashamedly have never taken the back of my phone, I belong to the 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' generation.

If I go to a mobile phone shop and choose another Nokia phone, my model is no longer available I think, do I undo the back and take something out and put it in the new phone and it will work as though I am still using my old phone?

Thanks in advance.

Subject: RE: Tech: mobile phone kaput.
From: Col K
Date: 15 Jan 06 - 06:19 PM

Go to a decent mobile phone shop and they should help you to change phones and enable your new phone with the same number and they should also be able to either use your old sim card or download info from it to a new sim card.

Subject: RE: Tech: mobile phone kaput.
From: Bassic
Date: 15 Jan 06 - 06:39 PM

If you dont want to actually buy a new phone, there are plenty of second hand ones in the smaller, independant phone shops. You may well be able to get a direct replacement for your damaged phone and thus avoid having to learn how to use a new one with different controls. Also, your old phone may well not be beyond repair. Replacement cases are less than £5 and even a damaged screen can be replaced economically. As the phone still works , even though it is looking a bit battle scared, try this option before paying out for a replacement.

Subject: RE: Tech: mobile phone kaput.
From: GUEST,inept
Date: 15 Jan 06 - 07:50 PM

Thanks I will go to a shop. I just didn't want to appear completely cabbage looking and end up being ripped off for something that does everything except make my tea in the morning.

Subject: RE: Tech: mobile phone kaput.
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Jan 06 - 08:17 PM

Are you in the UK or the US or elsewhere?

How old is your phone? Here in the US at my company, SprintPCS, they have an offer of a free phone replacement every 18 months, up to $150. They have several makes and models of phones (mine is Sanyo) to choose from. If you have a contract that can be extended, perhaps your company will simply replace the phone (with the usual provision that if you don't stay with them for another 2 years you pay for the phone).

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: mobile phone kaput.
From: GUEST,inept
Date: 15 Jan 06 - 08:46 PM

I'm in the UK. There is no contract it is just 'pay as you go'. The phone is about five years old. It still works perfectly so I will definitely look into replacing the casing. At least now I can go into the shop armed with some jargon. Thanks anyway.

Subject: RE: Tech: mobile phone kaput.
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 15 Jan 06 - 09:06 PM

It will be cheaper to get a new contract, if you shop around. I have just got a Nokia 6030 free by taking a 12 month contract with 02 via mobilephone.com. I get 200 free cross-network minutes per month (more than I use) and 50 free texts per month (more than I use) and I get cashbacks from mobilephone.com (if I remember to demand them at the specified times) that over the first 12 months equal the total line rental over that period. Free phone, free line rental, free calls. Works for me.

You can ALWAYS port your old phone number by demanding a "PAC number" from your old service provider and telling your new one what it is.

Regrettable I find the Nokia 6030 as a phone pretty crap - the buttons are too small and there seems to be no volume control for the speech (although there is one for the ringtones). On the plus side, the phone is simple - it is specifically for people who just want to make 'phone calls (and send texts). Whatever will they think of next!

My daughter has just got a new 'phone free by batting her eyelashes at someone who loves gadgets and so had got an all-singing all-dancing new phone, and was about to bin the previous one, less than a year old and working perfectly. Even if the new phone is "locked" to a given network, it's dead easy to get a scally to unlock it for a tenner.

You can often get not-that-old mobile phones for nothing on Freecycle (www.freecycle.com). Batteries often start to get tired after a couple of years, but sometimes you can refresh them by "deep-cycling" - ie let the battery go COMPLETELY flat, and then charge for 12 hours - twice in succession, or 3 times if you can.

Subject: RE: Tech: mobile phone kaput.
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 15 Jan 06 - 09:23 PM

UK products may differ, but all the Nokia and other really cheap POS phones I've seen offer replaceable top plates, if not other case parts, and batteries are generally replaceable (for about the same as the original cost of a cheap phone). There may of course be problems with replacement parts for out-of-issue models.

Nokia also has a web site where I downloaded a copy of the "operating manual" so that - for what little it's worth - I'll have it when I lose the rather bulky paper copy.

Richard B: On mine, and on several others I looked at briefly, the little up/down/left/right navigation pad turns the voice volume up/down using the right/left keys. Maybe on yours too? The voice volume only seems to work if you do it while you're talking...

John

Subject: RE: Tech: mobile phone kaput.
From: open mike
Date: 16 Jan 06 - 04:06 AM

i ws getting less znd less reception on my phone
and was told it worked on older technolgy
equivalent to "analog" as opposed to "digital"
the customer assistance people told me it
would be harder and harder to use the old
model as they were not doing anything to
maintain the system it used due to expanding
the GSM network (not sure if that means GLobal
Satellite??)

any way i basically got a $40 Nokia phone for no charge
from Cingular (U.S.) i did not need one that sings,
dances, takes pictures or myriads of other features
that would just be more stuff to malfunction.
MIne has a SIM card, which i had never seen before..
but i am guessing that it might work in other countries.

When i was in the shop to get a case for it,
a fellow walked in, said he had dropped his phone, and
handed it to the clerk. She said where did you drop it,
and he said " I don't want to tell you" She presumed
this meant it was in the toilet and quickly went to
wash her hands!! Then the guy proceeded to purchase a
phone there for well over $100 dollars...maybe even
over $200. I guess he couldn't wait to have one sent
to him like i had just done on line. mie was over 5
years old.

Subject: RE: Tech: mobile phone kaput.
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 16 Jan 06 - 08:54 AM

The up and down arrows do not affect the volume heard when ringing a number. Not tried talking yet. That's pretty useless for an in-car where you want both the ring and the voice audible through the adaptor.

Subject: RE: Tech: mobile phone kaput.
From: Leadfingers
Date: 16 Jan 06 - 09:00 AM

Inept - I have just got a replacement 'Pay As You Go' phone from Car-Phone Warehouse for less than a tenner - Including a fiver in calls on Orange ! I can swop the Sim Card out of my old phone to use up the paid hours on that if I wish ! A contract is only viable if you are going to use your mobile for a lot of calls , rather than just for emergencies , as mine is .

Subject: RE: Tech: mobile phone kaput.
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Jan 06 - 10:05 AM

eBay for phone batteries. Or at least for the beginnings of research for phone batteries. You can get manufacturer's batteries for a lot less if you shop around. Of course buyer beware--do your research. Buy from an ebayer with a long and spotless history, etc.

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: mobile phone kaput.
From: open mike
Date: 16 Jan 06 - 05:51 PM

i had an extra phone that used the same type of battery that my old
one did..and i used it just to hold the spare battery while charging..
so if at home or in the car i could have one charging...

the older style phone i had ad a battery that was attached to the case,
and i was abel to get a photo voltaic battery and charger that snapped
in place and could charge if in the sun. I do not know if my newer
unit can do that as the battery is a small unit which fits inside..
the solar charger was a nice feature !

Subject: RE: Tech: mobile phone kaput.
From: GUEST,inept
Date: 16 Jan 06 - 06:38 PM

aha leadfingers you speak my speak! Was your replacement the same make as your old one? Less than a tenner sounds good. I can get to a carphone warehouse. What is the name of the phone? I have about twenty quid on the sellotaped phone so transferring the credit would be ideal, hadn't thought of that.

Subject: RE: Tech: mobile phone kaput.
From: Leadfingers
Date: 16 Jan 06 - 06:54 PM

Bet the sale is over by the time you get there !! Best of luck though

Subject: RE: Tech: mobile phone kaput.
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 17 Jan 06 - 02:37 AM

Richard B -

Nokia Europe Model 6030 offers a "browse online" or "download pdf" of the operators manual for the Nokie 6030. I took the download for quicker review. I concur - you are absolutely correct that the operators manual does not tell you how to adjust voice volume on the phone. It says in 7 separate places that you should do it, but never says how.

The same site offers an "Interactive Demo" via Macromedia Flash (pronounce it "Flush" on anything but a very fast connection). You have to poke fairly well into it. The first button, for Phone Features(?) says not much of anything about all the buttons. The Other button, for Phone Functions(?) - or something like that, under "making a call" step 2, has an "incidental note" that says "you can adjust the volume while making a call using the left and right buttons" - presumedly on the "4-way navigator pad."

Makes me proud that I've got a much cheaper Nokia phone, but my op manual is every bit as useless as the one for your high priced phone.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: mobile phone kaput.
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Jan 06 - 12:21 PM

I found an interesting topic that discusses swapping out the SIM card mentioned above.

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-3504_7-6416182-1.html?tag=nl.e497

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: mobile phone kaput.
From: GUEST,inept
Date: 20 Jan 06 - 04:46 PM

Well! I was directed to a dodgy looking little unit in an even dodgier looking indoor market today. Showed the guy my sellotaped excuse for a phone and was promptly shown three replacement cases. Silver, black and lilac. He got the sellotape off without a hint of scorn, opened up the back of my phone and hey presto put the ok bit inside the lilac case ( I couldn't resist). And within the space of a minute and for a fiver, bassic you were spot on, all my worries had evaporated.

My only 'feel like an idiot' moment came when on seeing the inner workings of my phone, I exclaimed "Ah so that's my sim card." To which he replied, " No madam that's your battery."

Thanks for all your help. It saved me replacing the handset in haste ( and I LOVE the snazzy colour.)

Subject: RE: Tech: mobile phone kaput.
From: Bassic
Date: 20 Jan 06 - 05:47 PM

Glad to be of service. Now, if someone could tell me which pub/taxi I left my bunch of house and car keys in last night........sigh :-(

Subject: RE: Tech: mobile phone kaput.
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Jan 06 - 08:06 PM

Great story! You'll get a lot of mileage out of that card/battery exchange!

Can't help you with the keys, Bassic, except to suggest you go retrace your steps tonight. :)

SRS